Teachers’ union withdraws from constitutional hearing process
THE Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has announced its withdrawal from the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) public hearings, citing a collapse of democratic integrity. The union stated that the process has been overtaken by a wave of violence, intimidation, and the systematic silencing of dissenting voices across the country. This […] The post Teachers’ union withdraws from constitutional hearing process appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.
Black News 
THE Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has announced its withdrawal from the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) public hearings, citing a collapse of democratic integrity.
The union stated that the process has been overtaken by a wave of violence, intimidation, and the systematic silencing of dissenting voices across the country.
This decision comes amid reports of targeted attacks against those opposing the bill.
The union characterised the current atmosphere as a “theatre of coercion” that no longer reflects the genuine will of the Zimbabwean people.
In a statement, the union cited a total disregard of the democratic law as they stated that the public hearings are a “sham and staged-managed. ”
“ARTUZ hereby announces its total withdrawal and disengagement from these public hearings, which have been captured by partisan interests and reduced to violent platforms.
” From the onset, our participation in these hearings was guided by moral duty and civic responsibility, not because the process itself met the standards of legality, transparency or democratic integrity.
” The process is stage-managed, and was done to sanitise the dictator’s throat characterised by the busing of people and designed to manufacture consent rather than reflect the genuine public opinion, ” read the statement.
Reports of abductions and physical threats have surfaced from multiple regions, undermining the legality and transparency of the constitutional review.
“What was constitutionally intended to be a democratic platform for citizens to freely express their views has instead degenerated into a coercion of fear, repression, ruling party rallies, violence and intimidation,” ARTUZ said.
The union specifically cited a recent incident in Harare where human rights lawyer Doug Coltart was physically assaulted, and his cellphone stolen.
The union noted that Coltart was attacked by individuals aligned with pro-amendment groups, who allegedly stole his phone and damaged his eyeglasses as he attempted to leave a hostile hearing environment.
The post Teachers’ union withdraws from constitutional hearing process appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.
